Sri Sankara Digvijayam : मध्यार्जुनं (Madhyarjunam – Tiruvidaimarudur, Tanjore District, Tamilnadu)

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Sri Sankara Digvijayam : मध्यार्जुनं (Madhyarjunam – Tiruvidaimarudur, Tanjore District, Tamilnadu)

Madhyarjunam, popularly known as Tiruvidaimarudur, stands on the southern bank of the sacred Kaveri, near Kumbhakona kshetra, in Tamilnadu.

The large temple in this place enshrines the Sivalinga called Sri Mahalinga, so called not only because of the size but also because of the situation of this shrine in the midst of several sacred Ksetras around being auxilliaries to it.

It was at this temple that Sri Sankaracharya got an assurance from Lord Siva that the philosophy of Advaita was the real truth. According to the information in the biographical works it was from Madhyarjunam that Sri Bhagavatpada, followed by His numerous disciples, proceeed to Ramesvaram.

The Dindima commentary on Madhaviya Sankaravijaya on verse No.1. of the 15th canto (page 529 of the 1915 edition and page 509 of the 1932 edition- Anandasram Press, Poona) contains the following information :-

” अथानन्तरं पद्मपाद – हस्तामलक – समित्पाणि- चिद्विलास – ज्ञानकन्दविष्णुगुप्त – शुद्धकीर्ति-भानुमरीचि – कृष्णदर्शन – बुद्धिवृद्धि – विरिञ्चिपाद – शुद्धाननन्तगिरिप्रमुखैः सहस्रैः शिष्यवरैर्युतः सुधन्वना राज्ञा चानुयातः सर्वा दिशो विजिगीषुः स एव उदारधीः श्रीशंकराचार्यः प्रथमं सेतुं प्रतस्थे । अत्र प्राचीनानुरोधेन मध्यार्जुनं प्राप्य ततः सर्वाः ककुभो विजिगीषुः प्रथमं सेतुं प्रति प्रतस्थ इति व्याख्येयम् । तथाहि श्रीशंकरचार्यो मध्यार्जुनं नाम शिवविभूतिस्थलविशेषं प्राप ।

” मध्यार्जु नेशानमदृष्टव विद्यादिभिः पूजितपादपद्मम् । बुद्धोपचारैरभजत् परेशं निष्पापतां प्राप फलैकपात्रम् || “

” तत्र किल भगवान् श्रीशंकराचार्यः सदाशिवमेवमब्रवीत् – ‘स्वामिन्, मध्यार्जुनेश ! सर्वोपनिषदर्थोऽसि । तस्मान्निगमादितात्पर्यगोचरो द्वैतमद्वैतं वेति संशयस्य सर्वेषां पश्यतां निवृत्तिं कुरु । ” इति

प्रार्थितो मध्यार्जुनेशो लिङ्गाप्रात्सावयवरूपेण निष्क्रम्य मेघवद्गम्भीरया गिरा दक्षिणहस्तमुद्यम्य, ‘सत्यमद्वैतं, सत्यमद्वैतं सत्यमद्वैतं ‘ – इति त्रिरुक्त्वा लिङ्गान्तेऽन्तर्दधे पश्यतां नराणां महदद्भुतमासीत् । तद्भक्ताच तद्देशस्थिताः श्रीशंकरमेव सद्गुरुं कृत्वोमागणपतीशार्काच्युतार्चपराः प्रातः स्नानादिविशुद्धाः पञ्चयज्ञपरायणाः श्रुतिसंचोदिताचारणाः शुद्धाद्वैतपरायणा बभूवुः एवं तदेशस्थानद्वैतवादिनः कृत्वा प्रमथैः शंकर इव शिष्यसमेतो रामेश्वरं प्रति जगाम ” – इति ।

…

[This portion of the commentary (Dindima) found in Madhaviya Sankaravijaya is only a faithful reproduction of the same passage, found in the body of the text of the Anandagiri’s Sankaravijaya – Prakarana IV. p. (vide page 17, 18. Madras University Publication 1971 and Manuscripts – except for slight alterations of a few words here and there.]

Sankara Digvijayam -Kanyakumari & Suchindram

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A NEW LIGHT ON ADI SANKARA … 2

[ S.Padmanabhan, Kanyakumari Historical And Cultural Research Centre, Nagarkovil , Tamilnadu Council Of Historical Research, Govt. of Tamilnadu – The Hindu 23.4.2004-ஆய்வுக் களஞ்சியம், July 2004]

” In Chapter 4 of Anandagiri’s Sankara Vijaya. recognised by Orientalists as the authentic biography of Adi Sankara. there is a reference of Adi Sankara’s visit to Rameswaram, the defeat of Sakthas at nearby place and his trip to Anandasayana worshipping a Siva Kshetra named Rudrapura.

In this case his route should have been Rameswaram, Tiruchendur. Kanyakumari and Suchindram. Rudrapura is only Sivanthiram now known as Suchindram. The word Rudra denotes Siva. Sivanthiram means the places where Indra worshipped Siva. The inscriptions and the old people of the area call Suchindram as Sivanthiram. According to the Sthalapuranam. Indra was purified at this place and hence the name.”

Kasi Yatra 5

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(5)

श्रीकांची कामकोटिपीठाधीश जगद्गुरु

श्री१००८ शङ्करभगवत्पादानां गङ्गादितीर्थविजययात्रा।

” The 6th of October 1934 –

is a Red Letter Day in the annals of Benares – the ancient and sacred city of the Hindus; when on arrival from Prayag after walking all the distance on foot, His Holiness was accorded a fitting reception by the Hindu Citizens of Benares headed by His Highness the Maharaja Saheb of Benares as Chairman of the Reception Committee.

It is in the same Sacred City several centuries ago, that Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadacharya gave enlightenment to the world through His Bhashya in the presence of Lord Viswanath and also obtained five famous Lingas from Kailash.

The brief stay of His Holiness in Benares for a period of about five months and the celebration of Sarada Navaratra during the winter of 1934 which synchronised with a number of Yagnas and Homas (Havans) will be a memorable event to be cherished by the devout public of this ancient and sacred city.

The crowning success is due to the co-operation of the Hindu Citizens combined with reverential care and interest that was shown by His Highness the Maharaja Saheb of Benares and Pandits of all grades and shades.

The reception committee feels it its duty to publish this booklet so that the future generations may know how the hearts of their fore-fathers lept with joy on the momentous arrival of their Acharya.

Kashi is the nucleus of men of letters. The Holy Representative of Brahma Vidya from the Sacred Kanchi Pitha of Sri Sankara Bhagavadpadacharya coming into contact with, and being heartily received by, the representatives of traditional culture, headed by their Maharaja at the religious Metropolis of Sanatan Dharma, is, needless to say, an epoch in the history of Hindu India, the recording of which has fallen to the lot of our humbleselves, who crave the pardon of the public for any deviation from the sacred duty.

Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Ganganath Jha of Tirtharaj, Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Annadacharan Sharma,

Heads of Mathas and other religious institutions,

Pratapam Seetarama Sastry Nyayacarya of the Sringeri matha, Kashi and along with a gallery of Pandits submitted a public invitation to His Holiness to grace the Sacred City as early as December 1932.

Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Phani Bhushan Tarka Vageesa, Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Anantakrishna Shastri and Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Manavalli Lakshmana Shastri

along with the public citizens of the City headed by His Highness the Maharaja and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya welcomed His Holiness at the out- skirts of the City.

Ex-Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Panchanan Tarkaratna and Ex-Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Bhau Shastri Vajhe

And other eminent Pandits received His Holiness in the Sangaveda Vidyalaya the Dharmic ideal institution, where all the Pandits had also assembled.

It was the previlege of –

Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Pramathanath Tarkabhushan to greet His Holiness on arrival at Shivala and at Benares Hindu University.

Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Giridhar Sharma from Jaipur, Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Durgacharan from Calcutta,

Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Mukundalal Bakshi from Mithila and Mahamahopadhyaya

Pandit Harihara Kripaloo from Patna

(all these fountains of Oriental Culture) took part in the public farewell address presented at the Town Hall on the 16th February, 1935.

The function having been arranged by the Joint efforts of all prominent citizens and eminent scholars at Benares.”

A special publication was also brought out by the members of the Gangadi Tirtha Vijaya Yatra – Varanasi Reception Committee recording the special events during this Vijaya Yatra of His Holiness Jagadguru Pujyasri Sankaracharya Swamiji Maharaj of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitha.

– Publishers’ Note By

Sri Madhav Ram Sanda

Sri Jagannatha Shastri Bhradwaj and

Sri Damodhara Das Khanna (1936)

KASI YATRA .. 3

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(Kasi Vijaya Yatra of His Holiness Jagadguru Pujyasri Sankaracharya Swamiji of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, 1934)

“On the occasion of its annual Convocation, the Banares, Hindu University has after sufficient research by its professors, referred to the Peetha as follows:-

‘ तस्याद्वैतगिरां गुरोर्भगवतः श्रीशङ्करस्योन्न​तं

काञ्चीपीठपदं यतीश्वर महन् स्थाने त्वयाधिष्ठितम् ॥”

Sd/_

Pandita Madan Mohan Malavaiyaji

Again on the 19th of March 1935, a monster meeting was held on the grounds of the Benares Town Hall in response to the requisition by about a hundred pandits.

Under the leadership of the Swamiji of the local branch of the Dwaraka Mutt, the traditional Shrimukha of the Peetha along with some verses specially composed for the occasion expressing their considered opinion regarding the status of the Peetha, was read and adopted by the many sanyasins, inclulding the learned austere Karapatriji Dandi Swami, pandits, Mahamahopadhyayas and citizens assembled.

The principal speakers of the day were Ex-Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Panchanana Tarkaratnaji of Bengal, Giridhar Sharmaji of Jaipur, Pandit Devanayakacharya of the All-India Varnashrama Swarajya Sangha, Pandit Shri-Jeeva Nyayatheertha, M.A. and Sjt. Damodara Dass Khanna of Calcultta.

In the end Mahamahopadhyaya Durgacharan Sankhya Vedantateertha of Calcutta, as a representative of Bengal, invited the Peetha to his province in accordance with the resolutions passed at two successive conferences of pandits at the Bengal Brahmin Sabha and the Shivkumar Bhavan, at Calcutta.

On the next three pages requests by Mandalesvaras, Mahants, scholars and citizens of Varanasi, to His Holiness the Acharya to visit varanasi (1932), can be found”.